Often real estate websites have local history. I found more West Rouge and Port Union history from a few real estate sites when I tried searching today.

West Rouge

West Rouge was primarily farmland in 1926, when real estate developer Cecil White created the “Rouge Hills” subdivision. This development was intended to be a unique summer playground, with grand country estates spread out along the Rouge River. There were even plans for an elaborate canal system and private boathouses to service these estates.

“Rouge Hills” was never completed, however a few of the cottages on Rouge Hills Drive and Ridgewood Road are legacies of this subdivision. Year-round residential development of the West Rouge neighbourhood began in the 1940s, with individual lots being purchased by homeowners. Large parcels of land were subsequently developed by builders through the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. More housing was added in the 1980s when the former Rouge Hills Golf and Country Club located in the Rouge Valley was sold to developers.

Centennial/Port Union

In the 1800s, Port Union was a booming waterfront village with thriving ship building and commercial fishing industries, two hotels, a commercial wharf, and a variety of small businesses. In 1856, the Grand Trunk Railway opened a station in Port Union which added to the importance of this waterfront village.

By 1865, Port Union’s population had reached 100 people and it was granted its own post office. The two hotels that operated in Port Union during these boom times were said to have served “knock-em stiff” whiskey and “40 Rod Whiskey”.

By the late 1800s Port Union’s shipping industry had lost most of its business to the railway and subsequently shut down. Port Union then went into a period of decline that lasted until the late 1940’s, when the return of industry to this area sparked a residential housing boom. In the 1990’s, Port Union reclaimed its waterfront with a new housing subdivision that has helped connect this neighbourhood to its illustrious past.

The area south of Lawrence Avenue is now referred to as Port Union Village. The area north of Port Union Village is now referred to as Centennial, which makes reference to the north-south street which runs through the centre of this community. Centennial Street was named after Centennial Church (circa 1891), which still stands at the north end of Centennial Road off Kingston Road. The west portion of Centennial was settled first, with larger properties and homes. By the early 1960s, Centennial East had also become a popular residential area with new homes being built steadily through the ’60s and ’70s.

Reposted from Jill's Team

These lakeshore communities lie south of Kingston Road and the 401, just west of the Rouge River and the city limits. West Rouge is the area east of Port Union Road, and Centennial (named for its main north-south street) lies between Port Union Road and the Highland Creek parklands. In the 1800s Port Union was a major port and fishing village which grew in importance in 1856 when the Grand Trunk Railway built a station, though the port declined in significance. In the 1960s the area underwent a housing boom, and in the 1980s the development of the former Rouge Hills Golf and Country Club added housing in the Rouge Valley. In the 1990s, the redevelopment of the Port Union waterfront added high density townhouses.

From Moving Canada - West Rouge & Port Union – Scarborough (Toronto) Neighbourhoods

History of West Rouge

West Rouge was primarily farmland in 1926, when real estate developer Cecil White created the “Rouge Hills” subdivision. This development was intended to be a unique summer playground, with grand country estates spread out along the Rouge River. There were even plans for an elaborate canal system and private boathouses to service these estates. “Rouge Hills” was never completed, however a few of the cottages on Rouge Hills Drive and Ridgewood Rd are legacies of this subdivision. Year round residential development of the West Rouge neighbourhood began in the 1940’s, with individual lots being purchased by homeowners. Large parcels of land were subsequently developed by builders through the 1950, 60’s and 70’s. More housing was added in the 1980’s when the former Rouge Hills Golf and Country Club located in the Rouge Valley was sold to developers.

From Sold by Shane West Rouge

I found this among archived pages. Unless it is revamped with a new name, I can't find it still active. Too bad. It would have been very creative and quite something to learn to create a good map. They may have been hand drawn. But, would likely all be digital, made with software, now. Kind of a shame. Nothing digital can be as unique and creative as hand drawn. In my opinion. You don't really need to be a great artist for a hand drawn map, just pick out the locations and draw the shape of the land around them. As easy as that, not quite, but kind of.

The OSMMC originated in the Geography Department at Trent University in 1969. Professor Al Brunger was the Director of the competition from 1969 to 2009. On his retirement, responsibility for the competition was taken by a group of Guelph Geographers. That group, under the direction of David T. K. Dagg, conducted the competition until a new home was found at Laurier in 2011.

In 2011-2012, the OSMCC was relocated in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

Ontario Schools Map-Making Competition

I've got the idea to write a book about places in Barrie, Ontario which are forgotten, lost, unknown, mysterious, "haunted", or otherwise have a good story to be found. I've seen people creating, publishing, and selling books with Amazon. I'm not sure how it works, I have just started with the idea and have a lot to find out. For now, I'm gathering information. I even found an old photo of the Queen's Hotel in Barrie, in an old cookbook from the volunteers at the Victoria Hospital in 1900.

Starting point: The Old Jail (The shadow of Mulcaster Street) Location: 87 Mulcaster St (Site of the former Simcoe County Jail and now a parking lot/site of the new courthouse).

The Story: A classic of Barrie lore. This jail, built in the 1800s. While it was primarily a detention facility, executions were carried out here when Canada still had the death penalty. Security guards who worked at the old jail have reported plenty of unsettling experiences.

What to Look For: The area itself, especially at night, reportedly has an unnerving atmosphere. You're standing where generations of criminals, and some believe, their tormented spirits, spent their final days. The chilling reality of this former institution is often enough to send a shiver down your spine.

Stop two: Barrie Public Library (The Carnegie's quiet guard) Location: 37 Mulcaster St (now the MacLaren Art Centre).

The Story: The original Beaux Arts-style library building was constructed in 1915 with an Andrew Carnegie Foundation grant. Though the current library is elsewhere, the heritage building on Mulcaster is rumored to be home to an elderly ghost. Many say it is a dedicated former staff member or patron. People have reported objects moving on their own and feeling unexplained cold spots. Given its long life as a public building, it's not surprising a few old souls decided to stick around.

What to Look For: Stand outside the old building on Mulcaster (or the new one if you're closer) and think about what kind of person would be so dedicated to books they'd linger after death.

Stop three: Meridian Place and the Lakeshore (The waterside whisper) Location: Meridian Place, at the foot of Dunlop Street.

The Story: This area is the terminus of the historic Nine Mile Portage, a crucial route for Indigenous people and later for fur traders and the military during the War of 1812. The lake itself has a tragic past, with shipwrecks and drownings occuring over the centuries on the icy waters of Kempenfelt Bay. Legend has it that the spirits of those lost to the water, be they soldiers, early settlers, or victims of accidents, can sometimes be heard in the wind coming off the bay, a cold, mournful whisper over the square.

What to Look For: As your walking by this haunted tour stop, feel the wind coming off the water. Consider the hundreds of years of transit, trade, and tragedy that have occurred right where you're standing.

Stop four: The Queen's Hotel (The unfortunate groom) Location: 94 Dunlop Street East (The current site of the Queen's Hotel).

The Story: Legend goes that the Queen's Hotel is forever tied to the sad and mysterious death of Gertrude Small and her husband Warren Bell. Warren was an electrician who had worked at the Queen's Hotel. Just one day after their wedding, both Gertrude and Warren died in a tragic car accident that ended in the Nottawasaga River. Although the official verdict was accidental drowning, there were sensational rumors of a conspiracy surrounding Gertrude’s considerable inheritance.

What to Look For: While the main tragedy didn't happen right here, some say that Warren's ghost has been seen in and around the hotel, perhaps still doing his work or perhaps waiting for his bride.

Stop five: The Collier Street haunting (A stately specter) Location: 58 Collier Street (Site of a former medical office, near Trinity Anglican Church).

The Story: Collier Street is one of the oldest streets in Barrie, running parallel to Dunlop. Many historic homes and early professional offices once lined this road. The old Victorian house at 58 Collier, served as the medical office for Dr. W.A. Lewis (a former associate coroner) for years, residents and staff have reported unusual activity.

The building, now a business, is said to be haunted by a polite, formal specter. Workers in the area have reported seeing an apparition of a gentleman, formally dressed, who simply appears and then vanishes, seemingly just going about his business in the stately old building. This ghost is believed to be the spirit of a former doctor or prominent resident who is simply attached to his professional home. It's less a tale of tragedy and more a classic residual haunting of a person of habit.

What to Look For: Unlike the emotionally charged tales of Elizabeth Meyer (which we talk about soon) or the violent past of the Jail, this is a suspected residual haunting … an imprint of a past routine. Look for any faint, fleeting motion or shadow in the windows, representing a spirit still tied to the place of his daily work, as you check out this haunted walking tour stop.

Stop six: The Five Points (The scarred corner) Location: The intersection of Dunlop St. E/W, Bayfield St., and Clapperton St.

The Story: While not a single haunted building, this historic junction is the scarred heart of Barrie's past. The surrounding buildings, particularly those on the corners, were repeatedly destroyed by devastating fires throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This corner has been the site of businesses, hotels, and busy human activity for nearly 200 years.

Places that have experienced multiple devastating fires are often associated with residual energy and bad luck. Stand here and imagine the chaos, the heat, and the panic of a city being destroyed by fire. Some say that on a still night, you can faintly hear the muffled screams of warning or the clatter of fire bells from a century ago, echoing the trauma of the area.

What to Look For: Notice the varying ages of the buildings around you … the oldest ones that survived the flames are the most likely to have uninvited guests.

Stop seven: The Simcoe Hotel (Elizabeth's unfinished justice) Location: The corner of Bayfield Street and Dunlop Street East.

The Story: The site of the Simcoe Hotel was a major focal point in the 19th century. This area is strongly connected to the tragic story of Elizabeth Meyer. In January 1872, Elizabeth was found lifeless at the front entrance of the Simcoe Hotel on a brutally cold night. Her death was ruled as accidental, but a lingering mystery remains about the exact circumstances … did she fall? Was she pushed?

The Haunting: Local lore suggests Elizabeth is not resting easily. It is believed her spirit is still attached to the area, seeking justice for her mysterious death. Staff and those who frequent the vicinity have reported a chilling female presence, as if being watched by someone who desperately needs to share a secret.

What to Look For: This stop connects directly to the chaos of the Five Points, so pause here and reflect on the individual human tragedy that occurred amidst the grand history of the hotels. The spot is very close to the newer development, making the old, tragic history all the more unsettling.

Final stop: The Farmhouse (The suicide at the YMCA) Location: The Farmhouse Restaurant, 3480 Yonge St (A short drive south of downtown).

The Story: Originally built in 1890, this building has a rich history as a YMCA and a "gentlemen's club" before becoming the popular restaurant it is today. The most famous piece of folklore centers on a former employee who tragically took his own life in the basement. It's rumored he still lurks, and employees have reported some very weird things. This is a classic local haunting with numerous firsthand accounts.

What to Look For: While you can't go ghost hunting inside (unless you're dining there!), the building's distinctive old architecture and deep history make it a fittingly eerie endpoint to your walk.

Barrie 360 - Barrie After Dark: A self-guided haunted walking tour

Moni Edwards has a series of books about haunted Canada. All for kindle/ e-readers so I haven't seen them, other than the promotional ads on Amazon. So far she has books for Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick.

The preview for her book about Ontario sounds good. But, I never get around to reading any of the books I've downloaded for the e-reader. I forget what mine is even called now. My brother got it for me many Christmases ago, thinking I would get rid of, or not buy, printed books. Hasn't worked so far.

Moni Edwards - GoodReads profile. I didn't find a website or social media link for her.